Apparatus using radiation sensitive switch for signalling and recording data

ABSTRACT

AN UNDERWATER DATA SIGNALLING AND RECORDING SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES AN UNDERWATER SWITCH IN THE FORM OF A LIGHT SOURCE, A PHOTOCELL, AND MEANS FOR OCCLUDING THE LIGHT SOURCE. A MODIFIED SCHMITT TRIGGER CIRCUIT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE SWITCH TO FIRE AN SCR WHICH DRIVES INDICATING AND RECORDING MEANS.

United States Patent 1111 3,588,512

[72] Inventor Harry F. Holllen [56] Referen e Cited 1000 N. W. 39th Dr., Galnesville, Fla. UNITED STATES PATENTS 32601 3,153,149 10/1964 F1n1g1an 250/239 5; Qf g f' fn 3,235,741 2/1966 Plaisance 250/221): t d Y 1971 3,336,482 8/1967 Mierendorfetal. 250/239 1 a e 3,414,732 12/1968 Stengenga 2s0/222x 3,431,427 3/1969 PahLJr 250/214X Primary ExaminerWalter Stolwein Attorneys-Joseph Warfield, John W. P6386 and Harvey A.

SWITCH FOR SIGNALLING AND RECORDING Dav"! DATA l chmsnrawmg Figs ABSTRACT: An underwater data signalling and recording [52] US. Cl 250/214, system which includes an underwater switch in the form of a 307/311, 250/229 light source, a photocell, and means for occluding the light [51] Int. Cl HOlj 39/12 source. A modified Schmitt trigger circuit is responsive to the [50] Field of Search 250/221, switch to fire an SCR which drives indicating and recording 222, 239, 229, 206, 214; 307/311, 117 means.

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Z2 fif/i er 2 1 @wer //5 V46 APPARATUS USING RADIATION SENSITIVE SWITCH FOR SIGNALLING AND RECORDING DATA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to data collection and indicating means and more particularly to novel apparatus whereby data regarding underwater tests or observations by divers can be reliably transmitted to a surface station for visual display and/or recording as on punched cards or the like.

Heretofore electrical signalling of the type concerned has employed potted mechanical switches which have been prone to leak or to hang as water pressure increased. Moreover, control of indicator lights and/or card punching solenoids requires the use of more electrical current that is desirable to control directly through the use of remote switches located underwater.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved data collecting and indicating system which is reliable for use in collecting data from divers making underwater tests or observations, particularly at substantial depths.

Itis another object of this invention to provide a novel data collecting and indicating system comprising a novel circuit which is a variation of a Schmitt trigger circuit including an SCR (silicon controlled. rectifier) for driving a recording means, such a card punching solenoid, and an indicating lamp or light.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a novel photocell switch means for actuating the trigger and circuit mentioned above, which switch means comprises a light source and a photocell contained in a watertight body or housing, and a manually operable plunger or shutter for selectively occluding the light source whereby changes in the photocell resistance applied to the driver circuitry will effect desired indication and/or recording.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be further said to reside in certain constructions and combinations of parts whereby the foregoing objects and advantages are achieved as well as others which will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. I is an illustration in block form of a data collecting and indicating system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the switch portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the trigger and driver circuit of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described hereinafter there is provided a system for recording and indicating data regarding underwater tests or observations made by a diver. The system 10 comprises a photocell switch 12, which may be carried by a diver to remote, underwater locations, a trigger and driver circuit 14, an indicator light 16, card punch solenoids l8, and associated power supplies 20, 22, and 24.

The photocell switch, later described in more detail, comprises a pushbutton 26 which the diver may push, for example upon the occurrence of an observed event, thereby causing the trigger and driver circuit 14 to energize the indicator light 16 and one or more card punch solenoids 18 forming part ofa conventional data compiling apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the photocell switch 12 comprises a body 28 of transparent material such as one of the wellknown acrylic plastics which can be cast or molded and machined. The body 28 is bored to provide a cylindrical central cavity 29 therethrough. The body 28 is further bored from opposite ends, along an axis normal to the axis of cavity 29, to provide recesses 30, 32, on either side of the cavity 29, leaving wall portions 28a, 28b between that cavity and the recesses. An incandescent lamp 34 is disposed in the recess 30 and retained adjacent wall 28a by a suitable water resistant potting material 30a such as epoxy resin or silicone material. A photocell 36 is disposed in the recess 32 and retained adjacent wall 28b by a similar potting material 32a.

A sleeve 38, formed of a suitable opaque material such as stainless steel is disposed in the cavity 29, preferably with a press fit. The sleeve 38 has defined therein apertures 38a, 38b, aligned with the lamp 34 and photocell 36. One end portion of the sleeve 38 extends beyond the body 28 and has an axially extending slot 380 defined therein.

A plunger 40, also formed of an opaque material such as stainless steel, is reciprocably received in the sleeve 38 in the cavity 29. The plunger 40 is limited in its reciprocal movement by a pin 40a extending from the plunger 40 into the slot 38c of the sleeve 38. The pin 40a is conveniently retained by a collar 42 of resilient material around the protruding end portion of the sleeve 38. The plunger 40 carries the pushbutton 26 at its distal end and is resiliently urged or biased outwardly of the body 28 by a spring 44 to a normal position determined by the pin 40a and the slot 38c. In this normal position, light from the lamp 34 is free to travel directly to the photocell 36 via the walls 28a, 28b and apertures 38a, 38b. However, pushing the button 26 and plunger 40 inwardly of the body 28 causes the plunger to move in the sleeve 38 in cavity 29 and act as a shutter which occludes the lamp 34 as seen by the photocell 36.

Because the sleeve 38 in cavity 29 is open to surrounding water, plunger 40 is always operable without regard to increases or decreases in hydrostatic pressure about the switch 12.

It has been found desirable to apply to the exterior surfaces of the switch body 28 an opaque coating 46 of paint or the like to prevent false signals from the switch 12 when used at shallow depths where penetrating sunlight may reach the photocell 36.

The lamp 34 is connected by conductors 48 and 50 to the switch power supply 20 which may conveniently be in the form of a battery of suitable voltage carried by the diver.

The photocell 36 is connected by conductors 52, 54 to the trigger and driver circuit 14 which will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

In that view it will be seen that the trigger portion of the circuit comprises transistors Q1 and Q2 the operating voltage for which is derived from the power supply 24 via conductors 58, 60. The conductor 58, representing a negative voltage is connected by a resistor 62 to the base of 01, a resistor 64 to the collector thereof, and a resistor 66 to the collector of Q2. The conductor 60, representing a positive voltage or nominal ground, is connected by a variable biasing resistor 68 to the base ofQl, by a biasing resistor 70 to the base of Q2, and by a common emitter resistor 72 to the emitters of Q1 and Q2. The collector of O1 is coupled by a resistor 74 to the base of Q2.

The photocell 36 is connected by conductors 52, 54 in parallel with resistor 68, and is of a type which offers a relatively high resistance in the absence of light, and a low resistance when subjected to light. With the plunger 40 in its illustrated position, light from lamp 34 traverses the cavity 29 and maintains the photocell 36 at a low state of resistance. In this initial condition O1 is operating in a conductive condition and O2 is at cutoff. Now, if the plunger 40 is moved to its dotted line position shutting off light to the photocell, the resistance thereof is changed. This alters the base/emitter bias relationship sufficiently to cause O1 to change conductivity regeneratively to cutoff. Simultaneously Q2 changes state from a cutoff condition to a conductive condition.

Change of O2 to a conductive condition generates a trigger pulse at the collector thereof which is transmitted via a conductor 80 to the anode of an SCR Q3. The SCR Q3 controls the application of 12 volt AC power from the power supply 22 to the card punch solenoids l8 and the indicator light 116.

To this end, Q3 has its cathode connected to one AC power supply conductor 82, the other such conductor 84 being connected by conductors $6 and 88 to the solenoid l8 and indicator light 16, respectively. The solenoid 18 is further connected by conductors 90 and conductor 80 to the anode of Q3, while the light 16 is connected by conductors 92 and 80 to the anode of Q3. The control electrode of the SCR Q3 is connected by a conductor 96 to the ground conductor 60 to complete the circuitry,

When the mentioned pulse is applied via conductor 80 to the anode of Q3, the SCR becomes conductive or fires" and the AC circuit between power supply 22 and the solenoid 18 and indicator 16 is completed. When the pushbutton 26 is released, the transistors 01 and Q2 reverse their states terminating the pulse to Q3 permitting it to turn off at the next appropriate half-cycle from the AC power supply.

The variable resistor 68 may be adjusted as necessary to suit operating conditions such as murky water or the like which will enter the switch cavity 29.

While the system has been describing as comprising a single switch 12, single trigger and driver circuit 14, single solenoid l8 and indicator light 16, it will be understood that a plurality of such systems may be combined in a larger signalling and/or recording system.

lclaim:

l. A system for signaling and recording data from an underwater environment, said system comprising in combination:

a photocell switch including a body, a light source in said body, a photocell disposed in said body to normally be subjected to light from said source, and actuator means for occluding said light source;

electrically energizable indicating and recording means;

trigger and driver circuit means connected to said switch and responsive to changes in resistance of said photocell to control energization of said indicating and recording means;

said trigger and driver circuit means comprising a Schmitt trigger circuit having the resistive condition of said photocell as a controlling input, said trigger circuit being responsive to a predetermined photocell resistance to generate an output pulse; I

a silicon controlled rectifier responsive to said pulse to complete an energizing circuit to said indicating and recording means;

said Schmitt trigger circuit being of the two transistor, common emitter type; and 1 said silicon controlled rectifier having its anode connected to the collector of one of the Schmitt trigger transistors and to one side of said indicating and recording means, the cathode of said silicon controlled rectifier being connected to a source of AC power, and the control electrode of said silicon controlled rectifier being connected to the emitters of said transistors through a common emitter resistor. 

